Train derails in Normandy, injuring dozens
At least 44 people were injured, one critically, when a passenger train derailed between the Normandy cities of Rouen and Caen on Friday evening, French authorities said. The regional TER train, carrying around 180 passengers according to Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot, came off the tracks near the town of Cléon at approximately 7:45 PM local time. One carriage overturned and four carriages left the rails, as reported by multiple outlets.
Rouen prosecutor Sebastien Gallois confirmed the injury toll, stating that an 18-year-old woman was evacuated in critical condition. The prefecture of Seine-Maritime said she was airlifted by helicopter to Rouen University Hospital. Forty-three other passengers reportedly sustained minor injuries.
Emergency response and disruption
The derailment triggered a major emergency response. Tabarot said about 140 firefighters and emergency personnel were deployed to the scene. Local authorities activated a mass-casualty response plan, and the prefecture of Normandy and Seine-Maritime estimated that approximately 200 passengers had been on board, a figure that differs from the minister's count of 180. The prefecture urged the public to avoid the area.
Rail network operator SNCF Réseau suspended traffic on the line and cut power to the tracks to allow emergency services to work. "The priority is to care for the passengers and then to restore safe operating conditions," the company said in a statement. SNCF also reported significant disruptions on the Rouen-Caen route and between Caen and Le Havre, with replacement bus services arranged.
Cause under investigation
The cause of the derailment was not immediately clear. A police spokesperson told reporters that the train hit an unidentified object before coming off the rails, a detail also carried by several outlets citing a police source. Gallois said tests for drugs and alcohol on the train driver came back negative. Rail authorities and police are investigating the incident.
Passengers describe terrifying moments
Passengers recounted the dramatic moments of the derailment. Louis, 24, told local radio ICI Normandie: "Suddenly there were a few jolts, and then after about three seconds it got stronger and stronger. I couldn't stay in my seat any more. The windows partially shattered, the stones from the track came into the carriage. It was really shocking. I'm still shaking."
Another passenger, Ilario Imbert, 15, who was travelling in carriage 34, told French newspaper Ouest-France: "All of a sudden, we felt strong vibrations. The train lifted off the tracks. Windows broke. The carriage in front of us derailed and rolled over. We passed it; we were still on the tracks."